It took the Ford Motor Company a very long time to jump aboard the turbocharged engine bandwagon for mainstream, non-sport models, but now the Detroit automaker is going full speed ahead with the presentation of a full range of force-fed gasoline powerplants. Ford latest offering is a new 1.0-liter EcoBoost engine, the company’s first three-cylinder unit and its smallest production engine ever.

Designed by the engineering team at Ford’s Dunton Technical Centre in the U.K., the 1.0-liter EcoBoost engine promises to deliver performance of a larger four-cylinder unit with even higher fuel economy. It employs all EcoBoost technologies, such as turbocharging, direct injection and twin independent variable camshaft timing (Ti-VCT).

The Detroit automaker is not yet ready to talk numbers, but Derrick Kuzak, Ford group vice president of Global Product Development, said the new three-cylinder unit “will deliver horsepower and torque outputs equivalent to or better than most normally aspirated 1.6-liter gasoline engines”.

The new engine, which was first seen in the Ford Start concept mini at the Beijing Show in 2010, and more recently in the Ford B-MAX study at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show, will be launched globally in Ford’s small cars and will be available in North America.

“Consumers are telling us they want to buy affordable vehicles that get many more miles per gallon,” said Kuzak. “Our new 1.0-liter EcoBoost engine will give consumers looking for hybrid-like fuel economy a new, more affordable choice.”

While Ford did not specify which models will get the tiny EcoBoost engine, it is believed that the Ka and the Fiesta will be among the first Ford models to be equipped with the petrol unit.

The company said full technical and application information for the new 1.0-liter EcoBoost engine will be released in September at the 2011 edition of the Frankfurt Motor Show in Germany.

The all-new Ford Focus has barely launched in Europe but the German aftermarket specialists at Loder1899 have already created a dedicated tuning package. The company dresses the new compact hatchback with numerous carbon-fiber elements such as the front spoiler lip, matching side skirts installed on the door sills and an RS-style rear apron with an integrated air diffuser.

Other improvements include the carbon-fiber headlight covers that the company calls “evil eyes”, while the lower part of the front bumper features LED daytime running lights and fog lights wrapped in chrome. A wide range of alloy wheels in sizes from 18- to 20-inches models round off the exterior package.

Loder1899 also performed a technical upgrade on the diesel-powered Ford Focus, increasing power and torque on the 2.0-liter TDCi engine. By modifying the turbo pressure, the tuner raised output from 163HP to 195HP, and peak torque from 340 Nm (250 lb-ft) to 395 Nm (291 lb-ft).

After the performance updates, Loder1899's Focus accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 8.4 seconds, 0.2 seconds faster than the factory version. Top speed also increased by 2 km/h to 220 km/h (136.7 mph).

Buyers can either buy the parts separately or order a complete vehicle priced at €27,695 ($39,520) in Germany.

By Dan Mihalascu